13 Facts About Jacques Feyder

Jacques Feyder was a director of silent films during the 1920s, and in the 1930s he became associated with the style of poetic realism in French cinema.

Jacques Feyder joined the Gaumont Film Company and in 1914 he became an assistant director with Gaston Ravel.

Jacques Feyder followed these with Visages d'enfants which proved to be one of his most personal and enduring films.

Shortly after this, Jacques Feyder was offered a post as artistic director of a new film company, Vita Films, in Vienna, along with a contract to make three films.

Jacques Feyder made Das Bildnis, but the company failed and he returned to Paris.

Jacques Feyder re-established himself with Gribiche and the literary adaptations of Carmen and Therese Raquin.

Jacques Feyder contributed screenplays of films for other directors, notably Poil de carotte for Julien Duvivier, and Gardiens de phare for Jean Gremillon.

Disillusioned with the Hollywood system, Jacques Feyder returned to France in 1933.

Jacques Feyder went on to direct films in England and Germany prior to the outbreak of World War II, but with diminishing success.

In 1917, Jacques Feyder had married Parisian-born actress Francoise Rosay with whom he had three sons; she acted in many of his films and collaborated with him as writer and assistant director on Visages d'enfants.

Jacques Feyder died in 1948 at Prangins, Switzerland, and he was buried in the Cimetiere de Sorel Moussel, Eure et Loir, France.

Jacques Feyder was however insistent upon his creative independence, demonstrated by his willingness to make his films in so many different countries if the conditions of production appeared favourable.

Jacques Feyder's style was characterised by a classical balance and moderation, composition of images that was beautiful without becoming gratuitous, and a sympathetic rapport with actors.